Opinion Columnists

Hubbard: Don't let Newtown fade — seize the moment

I am not completely insensitive and uncaring, but no one will ever confuse me for House Speaker John Boehner or former St. Louis Rams head coach Dick Vermeil, who are two of our nation's great criers.

Steeled by 20-plus years in newsrooms and an adult life that has — thankfully — been largely free of trauma and heartbreak, my tear ducts haven't been given a serious workout in what seems like years.

That was, until Dec. 14.

Upon reading a breaking-news alert coldly proclaiming 20 children were among the 27 dead following a shooting at an elementary school in Connecticut, I blurted out "Oh my God" loud enough for the people who sit outside my office to hear and wonder what possibly could have gone wrong.

We had no idea.

Like many of you, I excused myself on more than once that day to dab my eyes as I thought of the anguish that had descended upon Newtown, Conn., and tried to make sense of the news.

We have wiped away tears on multiple occasions in the days since. They have streamed down our cheeks upon peeking at a daughter who is fast asleep, watching a children's choir sing "Silent Night" on "Saturday Night Live" or seeing the stories and pictures that have come out of a community grappling with inexplicable loss.

For whatever reason, many of us did not have the same reaction in July after a gunman opened fire in a crowded theater in Aurora, killing 12 people and wounding 58 others.

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Yes, our hearts ached. But it seemed we had become so calloused to violence as a condition of life that there was little appetite for action.

This time, it's different.

That dozens of families lost babies no doubt sharpens our responses.

We must do something. Anything. Everything.

We need more people to step forward with ideas to reduce gun violence, tackle mental illness and curb other aspects of a culture that has numbed us to violence.

Surely, if we put our national energy to this issue, we can minimize future damage.

That is why I took Democratic Sens. Michael Bennet and Mark Udall to task earlier this week for not leading on the issue.

Asked to share their opinions on a proposals put forth as means to address gun violence, both essentially said, "It's time to talk."

"In the aftermath of too many violent mass shootings, unwillingness from Bennet and Udall to take even general stands on guns smacks of being more concerned about their political fortunes than in the fortunes of the people who have suffered as a result of lax laws," I wrote.

Given the disproportionate number of tragedies visited upon our state and the expertise developed here as a result, Colorado — and its political leaders — should be leading the discussion.

Subsequently, both senators presented specifics.

Udall said he favored a ban on "military-grade weapons" (which would include high-capacity magazines, according to a spokesman), background checks for all gun purchases and efforts to address mental health.

"As a baseline, we should all agree that we must do more to prevent criminals and the mentally ill from obtaining guns, and ensure responsible gun ownership consistent with the Second Amendment," he said.

Bennet said he supported similar proposals.

"Governor Hickenlooper's efforts to expand access to mental health services put us in position to lead the nation," he said. "And, I believe, we can lead the nation on the broader discussion as well. As the President's taskforce begins its work, we will ensure that Colorado's voices are heard."

Do we run the risk of overreacting? Certainly. But at least then we are acting to address the issues.

We cannot lose this moment.

E-mail Curtis Hubbard at chubbard@denverpost.com. Follow him on Twitter: @curtishubbard

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